Makhana price per kg in India: what drives the rate
The makhana price per kg in India has more than doubled in five years. This guide gives the latest official average, explains why the rate rose, shows how grade and size change what you pay, and gives you a simple way to compare any two packs by price per 100 g.
By the Makau Foods team. Last updated:
Quick answer
Makhana averaged nearly ₹1,250 per kg in India in 2025, up from about ₹500 per kg during 2020 to 2022, according to the Government of India’s PIB backgrounder. Treat that as an average across grades, not today’s quote. Bigger, hand-sorted makhana in sealed packs costs more, so compare packs by price per 100 g.
Makhana price per kg: the short answer
The most recent official figure is an average of nearly ₹1,250 per kg in 2025. During 2020 to 2022 the same average sat at about ₹500 per kg. Both numbers come from the Press Information Bureau’s August 2026 backgrounder on the makhana sector.
An average hides a wide spread. Loose, mixed-size makhana bought in bulk sits at one end. Large, hand-sorted makhana in a sealed retail pack sits at the other. Mandi rates also move with the season, so a quote from one market on one day will not match another.
Source: PIB backgrounder on India's makhana sector (19 August 2026). Last checked 15 October 2026.
Why makhana prices rose
Demand has run ahead of supply. PIB reports that the domestic makhana market grew by around 17 to 18 percent a year between 2021-22 and 2024-25, while production volumes increased by only 4 to 5 percent from FY 2022 to 2025. It links the price rise to demand for health-focused snacks, premium branding, and a limited supply response.
| Figure | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Average price | About ₹500 per kg | 2020 to 2022 |
| Average price | Nearly ₹1,250 per kg | 2025 |
| India production | 63,910 MT | 2024-25 (final estimate) |
| India production | 80,590 MT | 2025-26 (second advance estimate) |
| Domestic market growth | 17 to 18% a year | 2021-22 to 2024-25 |
| Projected market size | ₹11,000 to 12,000 crore | By 2029-30 |
| Exports | 7,264.89 MT, worth ₹19,296.08 lakh | 2025-26 |
Source: PIB backgrounder on India's makhana sector (19 August 2026). Last checked 15 October 2026.
Production is rising, slowly
Output is climbing again: India produced 63,910 MT in 2024-25 and an estimated 80,590 MT in 2025-26. Bihar grows nearly three-fourths of it. Harvesting is still manual and done underwater, which limits how fast supply can respond.
The National Makhana Board
The National Makhana Board was launched in Bihar on 15 September 2025, and the central scheme for the crop has an outlay of ₹476.03 crore for 2025-26 to 2030-31. The scheme covers seed, research, post-harvest practice, and marketing. It is too early to say what it will do to retail prices.
Export demand
India exported 7,264.89 MT of makhana products in 2025-26. The US takes about 40 percent, Canada 20 percent, and the UAE 17 percent, so together those three markets buy 77 percent of what India exports.
How grade and size change the price
After popping, makhana is sorted and graded by size and quality, and larger, higher-quality makhana fetches higher prices. The trade measures size on the suta scale, from 4 suta (12 to 15 mm) to 7 suta (above 21 mm). An ICRIER report published by APEDA tracks domestic prices separately for each of these grades, because a 7 suta lot and a 4 suta lot do not trade at the same rate.
The same report notes clear price dips in August 2022 and August 2023, when fresh harvest reaches the market. If you buy in bulk, rates tend to be softer around harvest than later in the year. Our guide to A+ Grade and suta sizes explains the grades in more detail.
Sources: PIB backgrounder on India's makhana sector (19 August 2026); ICRIER, Strategies to Boost India's Makhana Exports (2025), published on the APEDA website. Last checked 15 October 2026.
How to compare packs by price per 100g
Makhana is sold in many pack sizes, so the sticker price alone tells you very little. Use this formula on every pack you are considering:
Price per 100 g = pack price ÷ pack weight in grams × 100. Price per kg = price per 100 g × 10.
Worked example with the Makau pack: it weighs 200 g and sells for ₹369 on Blinkit. ₹369 ÷ 200 × 100 = ₹184.50 per 100 g, or about ₹1845 per kg. That is above the 2025 national average, because the average includes loose and mixed-size makhana, while our pack is hand sorted to one large grade and sealed.
Price per 100 g calculator
Figures reviewed on 15 October 2026. The Makau price is read from our Blinkit listing and refreshed automatically.
Checklist before you buy makhana
- Net weight: find it on the pack and work out the price per 100 g before you compare.
- Grade or size: look for a stated grade and photos at real size, and check that the pieces match each other.
- Ingredient list: raw makhana should list one ingredient. Anything else is seasoning you are paying makhana prices for.
- Packing date: fresher is better, and a clear date is a sign the seller expects you to check.
- Sealed pack: makhana absorbs moisture, so an airtight, sealed pack keeps it crisp until you open it.
If you would rather season at home, start from raw makhana and roast it yourself. You can check our current pack, weight, and raw makhana price on the shop page.
Keep reading
Makhana price: common questions
What is the price of makhana per kg in India?
The Government of India's PIB backgrounder puts the average makhana price at nearly ₹1,250 per kg in 2025, up from about ₹500 per kg during 2020 to 2022. That is an average across grades and sellers. Large, hand-sorted makhana in sealed retail packs usually costs more per kg.
What is the makhana rate today?
Makhana rates change by mandi, grade, and season, and this page does not publish a live mandi rate. The most recent official average we can cite is about ₹1,250 per kg in 2025. For a packed product, work out the price per 100 g of the exact pack in front of you.
Why is makhana so expensive?
Demand has grown much faster than supply. PIB reports that the domestic market grew 17 to 18 percent a year from 2021-22 to 2024-25, while production volumes rose only 4 to 5 percent between FY 2022 and 2025. Harvesting is also slow manual work done underwater, and larger grades fetch higher prices.
How do I calculate makhana price per 100g?
Divide the pack price by the pack weight in grams, then multiply by 100. For example, a 200 g pack at ₹350 works out to ₹175 per 100 g. Multiply the per 100 g figure by 10 to get the price per kg.
Does bigger makhana cost more?
Yes. Makhana is graded by size after popping, and larger, higher-quality seeds fetch higher prices. In the trade, size is measured on the suta scale, from 4 suta (12 to 15 mm) up to 7 suta (above 21 mm).
Is raw makhana cheaper than flavoured makhana?
Compare them per 100 g, not per pack. In a flavoured pack, part of the weight is seasoning and oil rather than makhana. Raw makhana gives you the full weight in makhana and lets you season it at home.
Know exactly what you are paying for
A 200 g pack of raw handpicked makhana, one ingredient, with the weight and the price shown up front.
